After rare losing seasons, two teams with proud basketball traditions, Virginia and Butler, are rebounding — literally and figuratively.When the Cavaliers and Bulldogs play for the Mountain Division title of the Greenbrier Tip-Off, Sunday in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., it will match teams that rank fifth and sixth nationally in rebounding differential.Both rode significant edges on the boards in their opening-game victories over major-conference foes on Friday.In an 83-78 come-from-behind win over previously unbeaten Northwestern, Virginia (5-0) used a 49-25 edge on the glass.Meanwhile, in its 79-72 wire-to-wire victory over previously undefeated South Carolina, Butler (4-1) milked a 48-29 rebounding advantage.Gonzaga transfer Michael Ajayi (15 points, 14 rebounds) led the Bulldogs in the paint, where they outscored the Gamecocks 42-32. They also held a 23-10 advantage in second-chance points.Butler got help off the bench from 6-foot-11 bigs Drayton Jones and Yohan Traore, who combined for 13 points and nine rebounds.”Drayton and Yohan did a really nice job. I mean, Michael was a man down there as well,” Bulldogs coach Thad Matta said. “That’s something we have to have from those guys. We need production rebounding and finishing at the rim.”Contributing in the backcourt were Finley Bizjack, who scored 18 points, and Jamie Kaiser Jr., who made all five of his shots from the floor, delivering 14 points and seven rebounds.Trailing in a game for the first time this season, Virginia responded to the challenge, coming back from seven points down in the final 14 minutes.
